High blood sugar levels, the definition of diabetes, damages blood vessels and causes them to become stiff. Blood travels away from the heart to the rest of the body through the arteries and returns through the veins. When the arteries become stiff, they cannot dilate sufficiently to accommodate an increased blood flow when it is needed. Unfortunately, this can result in high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and heart failure. According to a study reported on in May of 2018 in the Journal of Diabetes Complications, young Type 2 diabetics in their late teens and early twenties are suffering from arterial stiffness.
Investigators at the University of Cincinnati and several other research institutions in the United States compared stiffness and how well blood could travel through the arteries in the…
- thighs,
- wrists,
- arms, and
- feet
of 453 teenagers diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. They were aged between 18 and 23 and were followed for 7.6 years. Arterial stiffness was seen in almost half the participants. From the results of this research, it was concluded…
- blood pressure,
- weight, and
- blood sugar control
is needed to prevent heart and blood vessel disease in young people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
In 2014 the Pediatric Clinics of North America reported on high blood pressure readings in teenagers. One to 5 percent of teenagers in North America is considered hypertensive. Sadly, this is primarily due to the overweight and obesity epidemic, which is also behind the Type 2 diabetes epidemic.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of overweight or obese children from 0 to 5 years of age grew from 32 million in 1990 to 41 million in 2016. Much of this burden is in developing countries. In Africa, the number rose from 4 to 9 million over the same time interval. The WHO estimates an increase to 70 million overweight or obese young children by the year 2025. These young children typically become overweight or obese adolescents and adults.
Children and the rest of us need to eat foods with the lowest amount of…
- processing,
- refined sugars, and
- added fats.
A lot of fruits, vegetables, and legumes provide nutrients without empty calories. Playing outdoor games or chasing a dog around help to build a healthy body and burns calories – as computer games cannot. Instead of more computer games invest in playground equipment. And walking to school and back can build a healthy habit that can last a lifetime.